Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 316.221 (2025)
Taillamps.
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316.221 Taillamps.—
(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two taillamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in s. 316.217, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear, except that passenger cars and pickup trucks manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1972, which were originally equipped with only one taillamp shall have at least one taillamp. On a combination of vehicles, only the taillamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than one taillamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. An object, material, or covering that alters the taillamp’s visibility from 1,000 feet may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a taillamp.
(2) Either a taillamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. Any taillamp or taillamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted. Dump trucks and vehicles having dump bodies are exempt from the requirements of this subsection.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 79-97; s. 173, ch. 99-248; s. 10, ch. 2000-313; s. 17, ch. 2006-290.
Civil Citations under F.S. 316.221
Driver's license points · R = revocation · S = suspension§316.221TAILLIGHTS - No/improper-2 red lights required (exception on vehicles made prior to 01/72)
§316.221REGISTRATION PLATE(TAG) LIGHT - White light visible from a distance of 50' required
§316.221(1)Tail Lights None/improper
§316.221(2)No Tag Light (Dump trucks and dump bodies are exempt
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 32
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1974–2023 · leading case: Doctor v. State, 596 So. 2d 442 (Fla. 1992).
Doctor v. State, 596 So. 2d 442 (Fla. 1992). “§ 316.221 (taillamps); id. § 316.222 (stop lamps and turn signals); id.”
State v. Schuck, 913 So. 2d 69 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). “[3] A violation of section 316.221 is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.”
Hilton v. State, 901 So. 2d 155 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005). “2d at 770 , involved an inoperable taillight in violation of section 316.221, which requires every vehicle to have two taillights visible for 1,000 feet, and inoperable brake lights contrary to section 316.”
Frierson v. State, 851 So. 2d 293 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003). “" Section 316.221(1), Florida Statutes (2000) requires a motor vehicle to be equipped with "at least two taillamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted.”
Williams v. State, 640 So. 2d 1206 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994). “2d DCA 1991); § 316.221, Fla. Stat. (1993). Second, we conclude that the deputy acted reasonably by maintaining the status quo at the scene of the car while he gave chase to an unidentified person for whom there was probable cause to arrest for possession of cocaine and battery…”
Davison v. State, 15 So. 3d 34 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009). “The appellant relies on Lan-gello in support of his contention that so long as the rear registration tag was clearly legible from 50 feet, as section 316.221, Florida Statutes (2007), requires, the officer did not have probable cause to initiate a traffic stop because the…”
Langello v. State, 970 So. 2d 491 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007). “221(2) requires vehicles to be equipped with "either a taillamp or a separate lamp" that is "placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear.”
Joseph v. State, 588 So. 2d 1014 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). “The appellants contend that the traffic stop was pretextual and that their detention at the scene, which allowed time for the dog to sniff out contraband, was illegal.”
Lemon v. State, 580 So. 2d 292 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). “Section 316.221, Florida Statutes (1987), requires a motor vehicle to have two taillights mounted on the rear which when lighted shall emit a red light.”
State v. Lee, 957 So. 2d 76 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007). “NOTES [1] Section 316.221, Florida Statutes (2005) provides: (2) Either a taillamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear.”
United States v. Holloman, 908 F. Supp. 917 (M.D. Fla. 1995). “for not having a tag light in violation of Florida Statute § 316.221(2). After being told that the officers did not have a search warrant, the defendant refused the request for voluntary search and the drug sniffing dog was brought in to do an exterior march around his vehicle.”
Wilhelm v. State, 515 So. 2d 1343 (Fla. 2d DCA 1987). “217, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear, except that passenger cars and pickup trucks manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1972, which were originally equipped with only one taillamp shall have at least one taillamp.”
— 316.221(1) — 5 cases
Frierson v. State, 851 So. 2d 293 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003). “" Section 316.221(1), Florida Statutes (2000) requires a motor vehicle to be equipped with "at least two taillamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted.”
Doctor v. State, 596 So. 2d 442 (Fla. 1992). “§ 316.221 (taillamps); id. § 316.222 (stop lamps and turn signals); id.”
State v. Schuck, 913 So. 2d 69 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). “[3] A violation of section 316.221 is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.”
Paul v. State, 991 So. 2d 404 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008).
Head v. Bernard (M.D. Fla. 2023).
— 316.221(2) — 14 cases
Langello v. State, 970 So. 2d 491 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007). “221(2) requires vehicles to be equipped with "either a taillamp or a separate lamp" that is "placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear.”
Hilton v. State, 901 So. 2d 155 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005). “2d at 770 , involved an inoperable taillight in violation of section 316.221, which requires every vehicle to have two taillights visible for 1,000 feet, and inoperable brake lights contrary to section 316.”
Davison v. State, 15 So. 3d 34 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009). “The appellant relies on Lan-gello in support of his contention that so long as the rear registration tag was clearly legible from 50 feet, as section 316.221, Florida Statutes (2007), requires, the officer did not have probable cause to initiate a traffic stop because the…”
United States v. Holloman, 908 F. Supp. 917 (M.D. Fla. 1995). “for not having a tag light in violation of Florida Statute § 316.221(2). After being told that the officers did not have a search warrant, the defendant refused the request for voluntary search and the drug sniffing dog was brought in to do an exterior march around his vehicle.”
Andrews v. State, 540 So. 2d 210 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989).
— 316.221(3) — 1 case
State v. Schuck, 913 So. 2d 69 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). “[3] A violation of section 316.221 is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.”
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